Dealermine in Saint John to create 135 jobs

A company in Saint John that provides software to car dealers across North America plans to create 135 full-time jobs over the next three years, more than doubling its workforce.

Dealermine, which is owned by an Ontario company, will receive a payroll rebate of up to $290,000 and a forgivable loan of $150,000 from the New Brunswick government if it meets its goal and maintains the jobs, Premier David Alward announced on Thursday.

Premier David Alward announced the job funding for Dealermine at the Saint John Port on Thursday. (Matthew Bingley/CBC)

The company will also receive a repayable loan of $100,000.

The investment is expected to add $6 million to the province’s gross domestic product once all of the positions have been filled, said Alward.

If Dealermine creates and maintains an additional 25 full-time jobs, it could also receive a payroll rebate of up to $100,000, he said.

Dealermine president and CEO Robert Quirion says the company currently works with about two per cent of the 15,000 car dealerships in North America. But the government funding will help the company to grow.

"We're going to go after a lot more," said Quirion.

"The assistance from Invest NB is being invested locally by increasing our product development, support, account management and business development centre teams. The products we innovate in New Brunswick give our sales staff a broader product offering and, as a result, help increase sales.”

Dealermine ​offers a web-based, customer relationship management software solution for automotive dealers, as well as a full-service, outsourced business development centre.

The company was founded in Saint John in 2001 and currently employs more than 120 people.